New Guinea impatiens plant named ‘SAKIMPOO9’

ABSTRACT

A New Guinea  Impatiens  cultivar particularly distinguished by having red flowers with red-purple eyes, a strong root system and a fairly compact plant habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Impatiens×hybrida (hort).

Variety denomination: ‘SAKIMP009’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea impatiens, botanically known as Impatiens×hybrida (hort), and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘SAKIMP009’. ‘SAKIMP009’ originated from an interspecific hybridization occurring in Misato, Japan between the female parent, ‘NC-1H1’, an unpatented proprietary Impatiens breeding line with light-orange flowers and the male parent, ‘NC-229’, an unpatented proprietary Impatiens breeding line with pink-lilac flowers.

In January 2004, the female parent line, ‘NC-1H1’, and male parent line, ‘NC-229’, were crossed and a population of F₁ plants was created. The F₁ plants were evaluated in Misato, Japan in an open field trial. The criteria for plant selection included flower color, strong root system and a compact plant growth habit. At the completion of the trial, one single-plant selection was made based on the above criteria and vegetatively propagated. From May to August 2005, the selection was evaluated in an open field in Misato, Japan. Shoot-tip cuttings of the variety were then shipped to Salinas, Calif., where the plants were regenerated and reevaluated for stability of traits. The selection subsequently was named ‘SAKIMP009’ and found to have its unique characteristics reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

-   -   1. Red flowers with red-purple eyes;     -   2. A fairly compact plant habit; and     -   3. A strong root system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new impatiens plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of plants that are 5 months from their transplanting date and 6 months from the stick date.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit including blooms, buds and foliage.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the mature inflorescence.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘SAKIMP009’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Salinas, Calif. The plant history was taken on plants grown for about four months from propagation by terminal cuttings under greenhouse conditions. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition (2001). Anatomic labels are from The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms, by M. Hickey and C. King, Cambridge University Press.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Impatiens interspecific cross, Impatients×hybrida             (hort).         -   Common name.—Impatients. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘NC-1H1’, an unpatented proprietary Impatiens             breeding line with light-orange flowers         -   Male parent.—‘NC-229’, an unpatented proprietary Impatiens             breeding line with pink-lilac flowers. -   Growth:     -   -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—The terminal 1.0 to 1.5             inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The             vegetative cuttings were propagated in five to six weeks.             The base of the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a             1:9 solution of Dip 'N Grow (1 solution:9 water) root             inducing solution immediately prior to sticking into the             cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays             having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based             growing medium. The cuttings were misted with water from             overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient             roots were formed.         -   Environmental conditions for plant growth.—Rooted cuttings             were transplanted and grown in 6-inch plastic pots in a             glass greenhouse located in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a             peat moss-based growing medium. Soluble fertilizer             containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 20% potassium             was applied once a day or every other day by overhead             irrigation. Plants were fertilized every 2-3 days, 2 times             in consecutive applications and then given one clear water             application. Pots were top-dressed with a dry, slow release             fertilizer containing 14% nitrogen, 14% phosphorus and 14%             potassium. The typical average air temperature was 24° C.         -   Time to bloom from propagation.—6 to 8 weeks. -   Plant Description:     -   -   Habit.—Fairly compact.         -   Life cycle.—Tender perennial.         -   Height.—26.0 cm to 28.0 cm from soil line to top of foliage.         -   Spread.—48.0 cm to 50.0 cm.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 4 weeks.         -   Flowering requirements.—Will flower so long as temperature             is above 5° C.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Plants have been observed to             continuously flower at a temperature range of 5° C.-36° C.,             with ability to withstand high heat and humidity. -   Branches:     -   -   Number.—8 total with 5 main branches.         -   Length.—3.0 cm from soil line to first node; 20.0 cm to 22.0             cm total.         -   Diameter (main branch).—1.0 cm to 1.2 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 187B (greyed-purple). -   Stems:     -   -   Length.—8.0 cm from first to second node, 12.0 cm to 14.0 cm             total.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm to 0.6 cm.         -   Internode length.—4.0 cm to 4.5 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 187C (greyed-purple).         -   Stem description.—Strong; circular cross-section, smooth and             shiny.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Anthocyanin color.—RHS 187C (greyed-purple). -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled with up to 5 leaves per node; opposite             if only two leaves at one node.         -   Length.—9.0 cm to 10.0 cm.         -   Width.—4.0 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate, curled.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Ciliate.         -   Texture.—Dull, waxy.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 147A (yellow-green). Lower             surface: RHS 147B (yellow-green).         -   Variegation.—Absent.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 147D (yellow-green).             Lower surface: RHS 185D (greyed-purple).         -   Petioles.—Length: 1.0 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: 0.5 cm to             0.6 cm. Color: RHS 185C (greyed-purple). Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Shape.—Deltoid, longitudinal cross-section.         -   Length.—1.3 cm to 1.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.5 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 52B (red).         -   Texture.—Glabrous. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Single flower with spur.         -   Number of flowers per node.—1 to 2 in bloom at one time;             about 5 flower buds per node.         -   Number of flowers per plant.—25 at one time.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—14 days.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—5.5 cm to 6.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm to 0.22 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 185D (greyed-purple).         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous. -   Corolla:     -   -   Shape.—Roughly circular with 5 radial petals.         -   Diameter.—About 6.3 cm to 6.5 cm.         -   Depth.—0.2 cm to 0.3 cm. -   Petals:     -   -   Length.—3.5 cm.         -   Width.—3.3 cm to 3.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Obcordate.         -   Apex.—Emarginate (cleaved).         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 52C (red). Lower surface: RHS 58D             (red-purple). Eye zone: RHS 61A (red-purple). -   Spur:     -   -   Shape.—Tubular and curved downward.         -   Color.—RHS 52B (red).         -   Length.—6.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm. -   Sepals:     -   -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Number.—Two.         -   Color.—RHS 144D (yellow-green).         -   Length.—1.0 cm to 1.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.         -   Apex.—Caudate.         -   Base.—Subcordate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Glabrous. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Form: Fused; split into 4 lobes. Number: Many.             Filament length: 0.4 cm. Filament color: RHS 52D (red).             Anther length: 0.5 cm. Anther color: RHS N155A (white).             Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: RHS N155A (white).             Pollen description: Powdery.         -   Pistil.—Number: 5. Stigma color: RHS 137A (green). Style             color: RHS 137A (green).         -   Ovary arrangement.—Parietal.         -   Ovary surface color.—RHS 144B (yellow-green). -   Fruit and seed set: No seed set observed. -   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or     susceptibility has been observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND KNOWN CULTIVARS

‘SAKIMP009’ differs from the female parent, ‘NC-1H1’, an unpatented proprietary Impatiens plant, in that ‘SAKIMP009’ has red (upper surface) and red-purple (lower surface) petals with red-purple eye zones, while ‘NC-1H1’ has light orange flowers. Additionally, ‘SAKIMP009’ has a fairly compact plant habit, while ‘NC-1H1’ has a branching plant habit.

‘SAKIMP009’ differs from the male parent, ‘NC-229’, an unpatented proprietary Impatiens plant in that ‘SAKIMP009’ has red (upper surface) and red-purple (lower surface) petals with red-purple eye zones, while ‘NC-229’ has pink-lilac flowers. Additionally, ‘SAKIMP009’ has a fairly compact plant habit, while ‘NC-229’ has a branching plant habit.

‘SAKIMP009’ is similar to the commercial Impatiens variety ‘Misato FG2’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,663) however, there are differences as listed in the table below:

TABLE 1 Comparison of Characteristics between ‘SAKIMP009’ and ‘Misato FG2’ Characteristic ‘SAKIMP009’ ‘Misato FG2’ Growth habit Fairly compact Upright and branching Petal color, upper surface RHS 52C (red) RHS N30C (orange-red) Spur color RHS 52B (red) RHS 63A (red-purple) at the base and fading to RHS 62D (red-purple) at the tip 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant as shown and described herein. 